The d-amino acid oxidase activator (DAOA) protein regulates the function of d-amino oxidase (DAO), an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of d-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (D-DOPA) and d-serine. D-DOPA is converted to l-3,4-DOPA, a precursor of dopamine, whereas d-serine participates in glutamatergic transmission. We hypothesized that DAOA polymorphisms are associated with dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline turnover in the human brain. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms, previously reported to be associated with schizophrenia, were genotyped. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were drawn by lumbar puncture, and the concentrations of the major dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), the major serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and the major noradrenaline metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were measured. Two of the investigated polymorphisms, rs3918342 and rs1421292, were significantly associated with CSF HVA concentrations. Rs3918342 was found to be nominally associated with CSF 5-HIAA concentrations. None of the polymorphisms were significantly associated with MHPG concentrations. Our results indicate that DAOA gene variation affects dopamine turnover in healthy individuals, suggesting that disturbed dopamine turnover is a possible mechanism behind the observed associations between genetic variation in DAOA and behavioral phenotypes in humans.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin synthesis. We investigated possible relationships between five TPH1 gene polymorphisms and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the major serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the major dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), and the major norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in healthy volunteers (n = 132). The G-allele of the TPH1 rs4537731 (A-6526G) polymorphism was associated with 5-HIM and HVA, but not MHPG concentrations. None of the other four TPH1 polymorphisms (rs211105, rs1800532, rs1799913 and rs7933505) were significantly associated with any of the monoamine metabolite concentrations. Two (rs4537731G/rs211105T/rs1800532C/rs1799913C/rs7933505G and rs4537731A/rs211105T/rs1800532C/rs1799913C/rs7933505G) of five common TPH1 five-allele haplotypes were associated with 5-HIAA and HVA concentrations in opposite directions. None of the common haplotypes was associated with MHPG concentrations in the CSF. The results suggest that TPH1 gene variation participates in the regulation of serotonin and dopamine turnover rates in the central nervous system of healthy human subjects.

The cholinergic system is involved in neurodegenerative diseases, and visualization of cholinergic innervations with positron emission tomography (PET) would be a useful tool in understanding these diseases. A ligand for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), acknowledged as a marker for cholinergic neurons, could serve as such a PET tracer. The aim was to find a VAChT PET tracer using a library concept to create a small but diverse library of labeled compounds. From the same precursor and commercially available aryl iodides 6a-f, six potential VAChT PET tracers, [C-11]-(+/-)5a-f, were C-11-labeled by a palladium (0)-mediated aminocarbonylation, utilizing a standard protocol. The labeled compounds [C-11]-(+/-)5a-f were obtained in radiochemical purities >95% with decay-corrected radiochemical yields and specific radioactivities between 4-25% and 124-597 GBq/mu mol, respectively. Autoradiography studies were then conducted to assess the compounds binding selectivity for VAChT. Labeled compounds [C-11]-(+/-)5d and [C-11]-(+/-)5e showed specific binding but not enough to permit further preclinical studies. To conclude, a general method for a facile synthesis and labeling of a small piperazine-based library of potential PET tracers for imaging of VAChT was shown, and in upcoming work, another scaffold will be explored using this approach.

A one-step ¹⁸F-labelling strategy was used to prepare four ¹⁸F-labelled analogues of 7-methoxy-1-methyl-9H-β-carboline (harmine): 7-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethoxy)-1-methyl-9H-β-carboline (5), 7-(3-[¹⁸F]fluoro-propoxy)-1-methyl-9H-β-carboline (6), 7-[2-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethoxy)ethoxy]-1-methyl-9H-β-carboline (7), and 7-{2-[2-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethoxy)ethoxy]-ethoxy}-1-methyl-9H-β-carboline (8). These were synthesized as potential PET ligands for monoamine oxidase A. A solution of pure labelled compound in buffer was obtained in < 70 min from end of radionuclide production, with a decay-corrected yield of up to 23%. The average specific binding to MAO-A in rat brain, determined by autoradiography experiments, was highest for compounds 7 and 8 (89 ± 2 and 96 ± 1% respectively), which was obtained at < 1 nM radioligand concentration.

Several peptides comprising Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) domain and macrocyclic chelator were labeled with ⁶⁸Ga for the imaging of angiogenesis. The analogues varied in peptide constitution, linker and chelator type. The labeling efficiency did not vary with the peptide constitution and linker type, but depended on the chelator type. Four of the compounds containing 2,2',2'',2'''-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrayl)tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelator were labeled at 90 ± 5°C using conventional or microwave heating reaching 90% of ⁶⁸Ga incorporation after 5 and 2 min respectively, when the concentration of the precursor was 2.5 μM. The compound having 2,2',2''-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA) as the chelator could be labeled at room temperature within 5 min using 2.5 μM peptide precursor. Two of the compounds contained a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) linker to the chelator. The biodistribution of the analogues was studied in male rats.

Several peptides comprising Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) domain and macrocyclic chelator were labeled with Ga-68 for the imaging of angiogenesis. The analogues varied in peptide constitution, linker and chelator type. The labeling efficiency did not vary with the peptide constitution and linker type, but depended on the chelator type. Four of the compounds containing 2,2', 2 '', 2'''-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrayl) tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelator were labeled at 90 +/- 5 degrees C using conventional or microwave heating reaching 90% of Ga-68 incorporation after 5 and 2 min respectively, when the concentration of the precursor was 2.5 mu M. The compound having 2,2', 2 ''-(1,4,7-triazonane1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA) as the chelator could be labeled at room temperature within 5 min using 2.5 mu M peptide precursor. Two of the compounds contained a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) linker to the chelator. The biodistribution of the analogues was studied in male rats.

Two F-18-labeled analogs of vorozole ([F-18]FVOZ and [F-18]FVOO) have been developed as potential tools for the in vivo characterization of aromatase. The pharmacologicalproperties of these radioligands were evaluated using in vitro binding and in vivo distribution studies in the rat and primate. Saturation binding studies using rat ovary gave K-D and B-max values of 0.21 +/- 0.1 nM and 210 +/- 20 fmol/mg, respectively, for [F-18]FVOZ, and 7.6 +/- 1nMand 293 +/- 12fmol/mg, respectively, for [F-18]FVOO. Organ distribution studies in rats showed the highest accumulation in the adrenal glands, with standardized uptake values (SUVs) of 15 to 20, followed by ovaries and liver with SUVs of approximately 5. Ex vivo and in vitro autoradiography of the rat brain showed specific binding of both [F-18]FVOZ and [F-18]FVOO mainly in the amygdala. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies were performed in the Rhesus monkey, and these showed displaceable binding in the amygdala and the hypothalamus preoptic area. The PET images were also analyzed using masked volume-wise principal component analysis. These studies suggest that [F-18]FVOZ might be a suitable tracer for the study of aromatase in vitro and in vivo, and could be an alternative to [C-11]vorozole in human PET studies.

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was visualized in vitro in tissue from patients with colorectal cancer with trivalent bispecific antibody TF2 and two hapten molecules, [^67/68Ga]Ga-IMP461 and [^67/68Ga]Ga-IMP485 by means of pretargeting. Colorectal cancer tissue samples obtained from surgery at Uppsala University Hospital, were frozen fresh and cryosectioned. The two hapten molecules comprising 1,4,7-triazacyclononanetriacetic acid chelate moiety (NOTA) were labeled with ⁶⁷Ga or ⁶⁸Ga. The autoradiography was conducted by incubating the tissue samples with the bispecific antibody TF2, followed by washing and incubation with one of the radiolabeled hapten molecules. After washing, drying and exposure to phosphor imager plates, the autoradiograms were analyzed and compared to standard histochemistry (hematoxylin-eosin). Pronounced binding was found in the tissue from colorectal cancer using the bispecific antibody TF2 and either of the haptens [^67/68Ga]Ga-IMP461 and [^67/68Ga]Ga-IMP485. Distinct binding was also detected in the epithelium of most samples of neighboring tissue, taken at a minimum of 10 cm from the site of the tumor. It is concluded that pretargeting CEA with the bispecific antibody TF2 followed by the addition of ^67/68Ga-labeled hapten is extremely sensitive for visualizing this marker for colorectal cancer. This methodology is therefore a very specific complement to other histochemical techniques in the diagnosis of biopsies or in samples taken from surgery. Use of the pretargeting technique in vivo may also be an advance in diagnosing patients with colorectal cancer, either using ⁶⁷Ga and SPECT or ⁶⁸Ga and PET.

Evidence suggests that amyloid-beta (A beta) protofibrils/oligomers are pathogenic agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Unfortunately, techniques enabling quantitative estimates of these species in patients or patient samples are still rather limited. Here we describe the in vitro and ex vivo characteristics of a new antibody-based radioactive ligand, [I-125]mAb158, which binds to A beta protofibrils with high affinity. [I-125]mAb158 was specifically taken up in brain of transgenic mice expressing amyloid-beta protein precursor (A beta PP) as shown ex vivo. This was in contrast to [I-125]mAb-Ly128 which does not bind to A beta. The uptake of intraperitoneally-administered [I-125]mAb158 into the brain was age- and time-dependent, and saturable in A beta PP transgenic mice with modest A beta deposition. Brain uptake was also found in young A beta PP transgenic mice that were devoid of A beta deposits, suggesting that [I-125]mAb158 targets soluble A beta protofibrils. The radioligand was diffusely located in the parenchyma, sometimes around senile plaques and only occasionally colocalized with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. A refined iodine-124-labeled version of mAb158 with much improved blood-brain barrier passage and a shorter plasma half-life might be useful for PET imaging of A beta protofibrils.

Visualizing the neuropathological hallmarks amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease in vivo using positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography will be of great value in diagnosing the individual patient and will also help in our understanding of the disease. The successful introduction of [C-11]PIB as a PET tracer for the amyloid plaques less than 10 years ago started an intensive research, and numerous new compounds for use in molecular imaging of the amyloid plaques have been developed. The candidates are based on dyes like thioflavin T, Congo red and chrysamine G, but also on other types such as benzoxazoles, curcumin and stilbenes. In the present review, we present methods of the radiochemistry and preclinical evaluation as well as the main properties of some of these compounds.

Objective. The aetiology and early pathophysiological mechanisms of aortic aneurysm formation are still unknown and challenging to study in vivo. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a potentially valuable instrument for non-invasive in vivo pathophysiological studies. No specific tracer to identify the pathophysiological process of aneurysmal dilatation is yet available, however. The aim of this study was to explore if different PET tracers could be useful to image aneurysmal disease. Methods and results. Human aneurysmal aortic tissue, collected during elective resection of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) of asymptomatic patients, was investigated in vitro by means of autoradiography with [Ga-68]CRP-binder targeting C-reactive protein, [C-11]DAA1106 targeting translocator protein (18 kDa), [C-11]D-deprenyl with unknown target receptor, [C-11] deuterium-L-deprenyl targeting astrocytes, [F-18]fluciclatide targeting integrin alpha(V)beta(3), [Ga-68]IMP461 and bi-specific antibody TF2 052107 targeting carcinoembryonic antigen, [F-18]F-metomidate targeting mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 species in the adrenal cortex, and [F-18]vorozole targeting aromatase. Of the investigated tracers, only [F-18]fluciclatide exhibited specific binding, whereas the other PET tracers failed to show specific uptake in the investigated tissue and are probably not useful for the intended purpose. Conclusion. It seems likely that alpha(V)beta(3) integrin expression in AAA can be visualized with PET and that the alpha(V)beta(3) selective tracer, [F-18]fluciclatide, may be suitable for in vivo molecular imaging of asymptomatic AAA. Additional evaluation of [F-18]fluciclatide and alpha(V)beta(3) integrin expression in AAA will be performed in vitro as well as in vivo.

Objectives: Various radionuclide-labeled somatostatin analogues are used currently for diagnosis and therapy of neuroendocrine tumors. In particular, [Ga-68]Ga-DOTA-TOC is commonly used for diagnosis, while [Lu-177]Lu-DOTA-TATE is used for therapy. With the development of theranostics and personalized medicine where the imaging diagnosis is tailored to the subsequent radiotherapy, it is of paramount importance to investigate the relevance of the ligand exchange. The aim of this study was to compare binding capacity of [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TOC ([Ga-67/68]Ga-N-(4,7,10-(tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl)acetyl-D-Phe-c[Cys-D-Tyr-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys]-Thr(ol)) and [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TATE ([Ga-67/68]Ga-N-(4,7, 10-(tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl)acetyl-D-Phe-c[Cys-D-Tyr-Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys]-Thr) in vitro in monkey brain cryosections and in vivo in the rat, where, in contrast to transfected cell lines, there is a heterogeneous distribution of somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtypes. The influence of various production methods of [Ga-68]Ga-DOTA-TOC and [Ga-68]Ga-DOTA-TATE on the biological performance of the tracers was also studied. Material and Methods: [Ga-67]Ga-DOTA-TOC, [Ga-68]Ga-DOTA-TOC, [Ga-67]Ga-DOTA-TATE and [Ga-68]Ga-DOTA-TATE were synthesized including preconcentration and purification of the generator eluate. The binding of the radioligands was assessed in vitro using autoradiography on cryosections of Rhesus monkey brains and in vivo/ex vivo using organ distribution studies in rats. Results and Discussion: The tracer production method was improved in terms of higher robustness, simplification and good manufacturing practice (GMP) relevance. The synthesis variation did not influence the biological performance of the tracers. There was no statistically significant difference observed in the binding of [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TOC and [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TATE either in brain cortex in vitro or in rat biodistribution and uptake in SSTR-positive tissues such as pancreas, adrenals and pituitary. The uptake in these organs was precluded by the excess of octreotide (Sandostatin). The 10-fold higher affinity to SSTR2 of DOTA-TATE as compared to DOTA-TOC known from studies in transfected cells was reflected in a slightly more intense binding of [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TATE than of [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TOC in the monkey brain sections in vitro, but not in vivo in the rat. Conclusion: A robust Ga-68-labeling method was introduced. The difference in the uptake of [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TOC and [Ga-67/68]Ga-DOTA-TATE in SSTR2-positive organs was not statistically significant either in vitro in tissue studies or in vivo/ex vivo in rat experiments. The results indicate that the more complex environment in vitro and in vivo diminishes the difference observed in transfected cell line binding.